Opening Day didn’t go as planned for the Atlanta Braves, as they fell 7–4 to the San Diego Padres. Atlanta held a 4–3 lead heading into the seventh inning, boosted by an Austin Riley go-ahead homer in the fourth. However, the Braves’ bullpen faltered late, giving up four runs—starting with a 405-foot pinch-hit home run by Gavin Sheets.
It’s only one game, with 161 still ahead in a long season. However, the Braves have championship ambitions once again, aiming to return to the World Series and reclaim the title they last won in 2021. They certainly don’t want to endure another 26-year wait for their next one.
Opening Day lineups aren’t always the ones that finish the season, and for the Braves, that’s exactly what they’re banking on. Atlanta was missing key stars—outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr., catcher Sean Murphy, and last year’s Opening Day starter Spencer Strider. Fortunately, all three are expected to return at some point this season as the Braves set their sights on reclaiming the NL East crown.
With three key contributors sidelined, the Braves’ Opening Day roster was bound to feature some surprises—none bigger than Drake Baldwin, who stepped in as Sean Murphy’s replacement behind the plate.
Drake Baldwin makes first-career MLB start
With Sean Murphy sidelined due to a broken rib, the Braves turned to their farm system for a replacement. In a surprising move, they not only added Drake Baldwin to the roster but also started him behind the plate on Opening Day, pairing him with 2024 NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale.
The 24-year-old Baldwin is the Braves’ top prospect and ranks No. 63 overall, according to MLB. He was chosen over Chadwick Tromp, a more experienced option who has been called up multiple times in recent seasons.
What makes Baldwin’s promotion so surprising is that many believed it might be too soon for him to make the leap to the majors. However, the Braves were left in a tough spot after allowing veteran catcher Travis d’Arnaud to enter free agency, where he ultimately signed with the Los Angeles Angels.
Once Murphy returns, Baldwin will likely be sent back to Triple-A Gwinnett—unless he makes a strong case to stay. In his MLB debut on Thursday, he went 0-for-3 at the plate with a walk and a strikeout.
Bullpen struggles in opening game against Padres
Given their quiet offseason, the Braves’ Opening Day bullpen shouldn’t come as a surprise. Despite being considered a World Series contender, Atlanta largely stood pat while other teams aggressively made moves to bolster their rosters.
Not only did the Braves make minimal changes to their bullpen, but they also lost two key relievers—A.J. Minter to free agency and Joe Jiménez to knee surgery. Their absence was felt immediately, as Atlanta’s bullpen struggled in the Opening Day loss to the Padres.
After Dylan Lee exited, Héctor Neris took over in the seventh but immediately surrendered a home run to Gavin Sheets without recording an out. Braves manager Brian Snitker quickly turned to Aaron Bummer, his top left-handed reliever, in hopes of stopping the damage and preserving the 4–4 tie. However, the move backfired, as San Diego tacked on three more runs, sealing their victory.
“It was a tough inning in all respects, really,” Snitker said, via The Athletic.
To say the least.
Here’s how the Braves’ Opening Day bullpen shaped up:
RHP Raisel Iglesias, Pierce Johnson, Héctor Neris, Enyel De Los Santos, José Suarez, Daysbel Hernández
LHP Dylan Lee, Aaron Bummer
This relief corps will likely have its struggles early in the season as it finds its rhythm. However, for manager Brian Snitker and general manager Alex Anthopoulos, the hope is that this group comes together—otherwise, their lack of offseason moves may come back to haunt them.
What’s particularly puzzling is that former reliever Grant Holmes was called upon in the eighth inning. Holmes, now considered the Braves’ fifth starter while Spencer Strider remains sidelined, is set to take the mound Monday against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
Right field platoon
Acuña is expected to return in May, meaning Braves fans will have to make do with a right-field platoon until the reigning MVP is back. On Thursday, last year’s acquisition, Jarred Kelenic, got the start against right-hander Michael King. He’ll primarily share playing time with Bryan De La Cruz in the meantime.
With the addition of Jurickson Profar—Atlanta’s most significant free-agent signing this offseason—left field appears to be set for the majority of the season. Meanwhile, Michael Harris II aims to stay healthy and remain a steady presence in center field.
When fully healthy, this Braves outfield has the potential to be one of the most dangerous in baseball. Acuña’s return will be a game-changer—especially if he can regain his MVP form after his second ACL surgery. One storyline to watch is how Snitker and the Braves handle Kelenic’s role, as he was one of their biggest acquisitions last year.
